Hedge trimmer



June 1, 1937.

W. R. BANKSON HEDGE TRIMMER Filed Aug. l5, 1935 mum Patented June 1,1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to a hedge trimmer somewhat of the type disclosedin my Patent numbered 1,839,009 and issued on the 29th day of December,1931.

Important objects of 'the invention are to provide a hedge trimmer ofthe character described, which is adapted to be attached to a powerpropelled vehicle, which is power operated, which embodies a cuttingelement that may be readily adjusted to any desired cutting height andangle, and which will facilitate and expedite hedge trimming operations.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood thatchanges in the form, proportions and details of construction may beresorted to that come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a hedge trimmer, constructed inaccordance with the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are, respectively, side and top plan views thereof.

Figure 4 is a rear view of the adjusting disk and of associated parts.

Referring in detail to the drawing I denotes the entire frame structure,which comprises a pair of spaced guide rods 2, a head member 3, and afoot member 4. The guide rods extend vertically and parallel to eachother, and have their upper ends fixed in the head member 3, while thelower ends thereof are fixed in the foot member 4.

The head and foot members 3 and 4 are each provided with an integrallyformed, laterally projecting connecting bracket, respectively indicatedat 5 and 6. The connecting brackets are apertured and adapted forattaching the device in position to a motor truck or tractor, or to anyother suitable propelling vehicle.

A slide block 1 is mounted for vertical movement on the guide rods 2,which latter extend through the former. An adjusting screw 8 is suitablyjournaled for rotation in the head and foot members 3 and 4, and isdisposed parallel to and centrally intermediate of the guide rods. Theadjusting screw extends through the slide block and is threadedlyengaged in the latter.

The upper end of the adjusting screw 8 carries a fixed, handled,operating wheel 9 to facilitate the rotation of the screw whenvertically adjusting the slide block 1 on the guide rods 2.

The slide block 1 is provided with an integrally formed or otherwisefixed supporting plate I, which is disposed vertically edgewise. Thesupporting plate carries a pair of fixed axles, respectively indicatedat II and I2. The axles II and I2 are horizontally aligned, having acommon axis, and project laterally on opposed sides of the supportingplate.

A connecting diskl I3 is pivotally mounted, at its axial center, on theaxle II, and carries a cutter bar I4, which is xed therewith in anysuitable manner. The cutter bar is of the wellknown construction andincludes the slotted iingers I5, through which the cutter member I6,having triangularly-shaped knives, reciprocates in the usual mannerduring the cutting operation.

Reciprocating movement is imparted to the cutter member I6 by a pitmanI'I, which has one end pivotally connected to the inner end of theformer. The other end of the pitman is pivotally and eccentricallyconnected to a pinion I8, which is pivotally connected against the rearside of the supporting plate I0. The pinion is driven by a driving gearI9, which is revolubly connected on the axle I2 rearwardly of thesupporting plate.

An electric motor 20 is secured in position on a bracket 2|, whichlatter projects rearwardly of and is iixed to the supporting plate I0.The motor 20 is provided with a motor gear 22, which meshes with andoperates the driving gear I9.

It is evident that the operation of the motor 20 will drive the gear I9and associated pinion I8, and thereby impart longitudinal reciprocationof the cutter member I6 in the cutter bar I4 to effect the cutting ortrimming operations, in a manner well known in the art.

It will here be noted that, while illustrating and describing anelectric motor for driving my improved hedge trimmer, it is evident thatany other adaptable power mechanism may be employed, namely, an internalcombustion engine, or a suitable driving connection with the powermechanism embodied in the propelling vehicle to which the device isattached.

Approximately one-half portion of the periphery of the connecting diskI3 is provided with gear teeth 23, which mesh with a worm 24 fixed on ashaft 25. The latter is suitably journaled for rotation in bearings 26,which latter are carried by and xed to the supporting plate I0 at thetop of the latter.

The shaft 25 projects through the frame structure l, and carries a Xed,handled operating wheel 2l'. The operation of the latter will eiTect theadjustment of the cutter bar hland of the associated cutter member I6from the horizontal position to predetermined angular positions eitherabove or below the latter, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

As the driving gear I9 and the connecting disk i3 have a common axialcenter, the adjustment of the cutter bar I4, in the manner stated, willnot affect the 4functioning of the pinion t8, regardless of the relativeposition of the latter with respect to the driving gear I9.

The location and relative positions of the 9perating wheels 9 and 2l aresuch as to `'conveniently permit their manipulation by the operator,

to provide -1 the required or desired height and angular adjustments ofthe cutting elements.-

The present invention provides a mosteiicient device of its kind), whichmay be conveniently operated to neatly, quickly and accurately wtrim ahedge row along vits top and along respective sides thereof. -f

-What I claim vis: f

-In combination, a hedge trimmer of the character described, comprisinga pair of vertically extending spaced guide rods, head and foot membersxed to respective ends of said pair of guide rods, an attaching bracketfixed to each of said head and foot members, a block including asupporting plate slidably mounted on said pair of guide rods, anadjusting screw threadedly engaging said block disposed parallel to andintermediate of said pair of guide rods and journaled for rotation insaid head and `foot members, a wheel fixed to the upper, Vend of saidadjusting screw to operate the latter to vertically shift said block onsaid pair of guide rods, a connecting `disk pivotally joined to saidsupporting plate, a cutter bar fixed to said connecting disk,

l.a reciprocating `cutter member mounted in said cutter bar, poweroperated means carried by said `supporting vplate and operable forimparting re-

